Name of Session: What is Inquiry?


Learning Goals for DVI Fellows:

I'd like participants to reflect on their own definition of inquiry and to share those definitions with each other to compare/contrast ideas. At the end of the session, fellows should identify generally agreed upon (from NRC, AAAS, etc) characteristics of doing inquiry such as

  • asking or identifying questions
  • planning and carrying out investigations
  • using equipment and tools to collect, analyze, and interpret data
  • using data and evidence to develop explanations and models
  • communicating the procedures of an investigation as well as the explanations
(Inquire Within page 12)



Summary of Activities:

Take a look at the activity in the facilitator's guide for the "What is Inquiry" chapter. I like the idea of teachers using index card to list or make a concept map of their ideas about inquiry and then sharing them, and summarizing for the class. We could introduce accepted "definitions" and compare. The facilitator's guide has an activity with cups and chemicals (the old demo to show how viruses can be spread...) but I do not think we have time nor is it necessary.




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